Lester del Rey books in order
American science fiction author
- Lived
- 1915–1993
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 26
- Also writes as
- Philip James, Cameron Hall, Marion Henry, Charles Satterfield
Lester del Rey published 20 novels, 3 novellas and 3 short story collections, beginning with The Runaway Robot (1964).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Lester del Rey
Start here
The Runaway Robot
Lester del Rey's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Marooned on Mars (1952)
Rocket Jockey (1952)
Attack from Atlantis (1953)
Battle on Mercury (1953)
The Mysterious Planet (1953)
Rockets to Nowhere (1954)
Step to the Stars (1954)
The Year After Tomorrow (1954)
Mission to the Moon (1956)
Moon of Mutiny (1961)
Outpost of Jupiter (1963)
The Runaway Robot (1964)
The Infinite Worlds of Maybe (1966)
Tunnel Through Time (May 1966)
Nerves (1970)
Pstalemate (1971)
Best Science Fiction of the Year (1977)
The Best of Lester Del Rey (1978)
Preferred Risk (1979)
The World of Science Fiction, 1926-1976 (1979)
Novellas in order
The Sky Is Falling (1974)
Police Your Planet (1975)
Badge of Infamy (1976)
Short story collections in order
Robots and Changelings (1957)
Gods and Golems (1973)
Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year (1976)
Free to read
All free classics
About Lester del Rey
Leonard Knapp, best known by his primary pseudonym Lester del Rey, was an American science fiction author and editor. He was the author of many books in the juvenile Winston Science Fiction series, and the fantasy editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction imprint of Ballantine Books, working for his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Lester del Rey FAQ
- How many books has Lester del Rey written?
- Lester del Rey published 20 novels, 3 novellas and 3 short story collections that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Lester del Rey's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Runaway Robot.
- What is Lester del Rey's last book?
- The World of Science Fiction, 1926-1976 (1979).
- What is Lester del Rey's most famous book?
- The Runaway Robot (1964) is Lester del Rey's most widely read book.
- Does Lester del Rey write under a pen name?
- Yes: Lester del Rey has also published as Philip James, Cameron Hall, Marion Henry and Charles Satterfield.
- Can I read Lester del Rey's books for free?
- Yes. 22 books by Lester del Rey are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Lester del Rey
Alfred Bester
Also wrote science fiction and short stories
Walter M. Miller Jr.
Also wrote science fiction and literary fiction
Robert Silverberg
Also writes science fiction and literary fiction
Cyril M. Kornbluth
Also wrote science fiction and literary fiction
Damon Knight
Also wrote science fiction and literary fiction
H. Beam Piper
Also wrote science fiction and literary fiction
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.